Cutting device



May 8, 1934. HML' DAWS 1,958,132

CUTTING DEVICE Filed June 10, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l miba JEEb/EEZL 175M??- 7 ZQAQ y 8, 1934- H. L. DAVIS 3 CUTTING DEVICE Filed June 10, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 L) V CW H. L. DAVIS CUTTING DEVICE May 8, 1934.

Filed June 10, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 JUL/5777b jFFbEEZL'FEL/ZE f7 Patented May 8, 1934 UNITE STATS arr FiCE CUTTING DEVICE Application June 10, 1932, Serial No. 616,458

16 Claims.

This invention relates to cutting devices used. for trimming the ends of a binding or tape as it is applied to the margin of an article.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a device which is automatic in operation, which can be applied to existing machines, and which can be adjusted to trim articles of varying contour; and to provide efiiciency and economy in operation.

Other objects will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a rear-elevation of the preferred form of the device as applied to a sewing machine, the sewing machine being indicated in dot and dash lines, the electrical wiring being shown conventionally, and the source of electric current being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the preferred form of the device taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, parts of a sewing machine, to which the device is connected, and with which the device cooperates, being shown in dot and dash lines, the article operated upon being partially broken away, and 25 the electrical apparatus with the exception of the contact parts being omitted.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the preferred form of the device as seen from the right of Figs. 1 and 2, parts of the sewing machine being indicated by dot and dash lines, and parts of the mechanism being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the cutter and electrical contacts with an article and binding tape, parts of the mechanism and article being broken away, the article being shown in position for cutting the binding tape at the trailing edge of the article to which it is applied, the dot and dash lines indicating the position of the article when the tape is trimmed at the leading edge.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a modified form of the device.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view similar to Fig. i, but showing another modification of the device.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the first modification, only the essential parts being shown, and parts being broken away.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7 showing another modification of the device.

Referring to the drawings, in which the device has been shown as attached to a sewing machine, it being understood that other binding attaching devices might be used and that the sewing machine is shown only for the purpose of illustration, the numeral 10 designates a plate which may be attached by bolts 11 and 12 to the rear side of the horn 13 of a power sewing machine or other device adapted to apply a binding along the margin of an article.

A horizontal rock shaft 14 journaled through the plate 10 has a laterally projecting shear blade 15 mounted on one end thereof for cooperation with a fixedshear blade 16 mounted on the horn 13, the blades being mounted directly in the line of travel of the margin of an article and its binding tape fed beneath the presser foot 1'7 of the sewing machine.

An operating arm 18 is fixed to the opposite end of shaft 14. A pair of toggle links 19 and 28 are pivoted respectively to arm 18 and plate 10, the plate 10 being provided with a pivot stud 21 for the purpose. A bifurcated rod 22 straddles the joint between links 19 and 20 and engages the pin 23 by which they are hinged together. The upper ends of rod 22 are attached to a tension coil spring 24 by a pin 25. Spring 24 is suspended from an arm 26 fixed to the arm 26a of the sewing machine, the arrangement being such that spring 24 normally holds links 19 and 20 at an elevated position so that the shear blade 15 is raised from blade 16 a sufiicient distance to allow the work to pass therebetween.

An armature 27 attached to the lower end of rod 22 extends into a solenoid 28, the arrangement being such that when a current is passed through the solenoid, rod 22 will be drawn to its lowermost position and on breaking of the cur rent the spring 24 will return the rod to its upper position. In traveling in either direction the toggle comprising links 19 and 20 will be straightened at mid-position, causing blade 15 to shear across blade 16 to snip the binding, and in further movement of the toggle links in the same direction the blade 15 will be raised to open position.

Mounted on the horn 13 parallel to the line of travel of the work is a conductive metal plate 29 over which the work passes. Mounted on the plate 10 above plate 29 is a bar 30 of conductive metal which is preferably of square cross-section and is insulated from plate 10 by an insulating bushing 31 and insulating washers 32 and 33. Bar 30 is held in place by a nut 34 threaded thereon. A collar 35 is adjustably mounted on rod 30 to which it may be clamped by a screw 36. A spring metal contact-blade 37 terminating in a ball contact 38 is fastened to collar 35 and normally contacts with plate 29 with which it comprises a switch for controlling an electric current. A second similar collar and contact blade terminating in a ball contact 39 is similarly mounted on the rod and normally contacts with plate 29, there with comprising a second switch. A wire 49 connects one end of the solenoid 23 to plate 29. The other end of the solenoid is connected to the negative side of a source of electric current such as a battery (not shown). A wire 41 connects bar 30 to the positive side of the source of current, the construction being such that when the circuit is closed by either or both contacts 38 and 39 resting on plate 29 the solenoid will hold the toggle in its lowermost position. In its movement to that position the shear blade 15 is forced down ward past the blade 16 and then raised to open position. Also when both contacts 38 and 39 are raised from contact with plate 29, as by tl e presence of a sheet of work of an insulating nature, shear blade 15 will again be operated through a complete cycle by the spring 2'7 lifting the toggle and thereby moving the blade downward for the cutting operation and then returning it to its uppermost, open position.

A leaf spring 42 mounted on plate 10 bears axially against shaft 14 and holds the shear blade 15 in contact with the blade 16.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, a shoe tongue 43 is shown as passing between the shear blades 15 and 16, a bias binding 44 having been applie. to the margins thereof by stitching. A second tongue 45 is shown in position to enter under the needle 46 for the purpose of having binding 44 applied thereto. Both contacts 38 and 39 are held off plate 29 by the article 43.

On continued operation of the machine, as the trailing corner 47 reaches the edge of blade 16, contact 39 will drop oil the trailing edge of the article 43 and make contact with the plate 29, energizing the solenoid 28 and causing the blade 15 to sever the binding at the point 47 and then stop in open position, held by the pull of the solenoid. Article 43 may then be further advanced or pulled from the machine, whereupon contact 38 will also contact with plate 29 but, as the circuit has already been closed by the contact 39, no cutting will occur.

As the second article 45 is advanced the binding 44 is stitched thereto. Contact 39 meeting the leading edge of the article will be raised from plate 29, but as long as contact 38 still remains on the plate no out occurs. As the leading corner 48 of article 45 reaches the cutting edge of blade 16, the leading edge of the article lifts the second contact 38 from the plate 29 and thus breaks the circuit which with the adjustment shown and with an article of the shape shown occurs when the proper part of the tape is at the cutting position, the shear blade 15 is actuated to cut the binding at the corner 48.

The setting of the contacts 38 and 39 is dependent upon the amount by which the leading or trailing edge of the fabric piece, along a path through the contacts parallel to the line of stitching is in advance or in the rear of the corner of the work at which the out is to be made. This is clearly shown in Fig. 4, where a differently shaped article 49 is shown as passing through the same mechanism, and is shown in full lines as being trimmed at the trailing corner and in dot and dash lines at the position to trim the leading cor ner. The indicated angle A having its apex at the line of cut and its sides passing through the intersections of the l ading and trailing edges and the line of contacts, and to the sides of which the contacts 38 and 39 are shown tangent, defines the position of the contacts. When angles B and C are equal, their sum being more than 180, angle A may be determined by the formula:

The preferred form just described may be used whenever the sum of the angles B and C is greater than 180, whether the angles B and C are equal or not.

When the angles 5 and C are not equal, their sum being greater than 180 and both of the angles are equal to or greater than 90, angle E, which determines the setting of contact 38, is equal to C9 and angle D, which determines setting or" contact 39 is equal to BO.

"When the angles B and C are not equal, their sum being greater than 180 and one of the angles B or C is less than 90 the position of the side of that angle A which determines the location of the contact causing a cut at the corner having the greater included angle may determined and that stop set, then angle A, being always equal to (3+0) -180, may be determined and the other stop set.

The limiting case with the form of the device thus far described is where the angle A becomes so near zero as to cause the two contacts 38, 39 to touch. Where this condition obtains, one of the contacts, 38 or 39, is removed from the device, producing the modification shown in Figs. 5 and '7. This form of the device is shown in these figures as operating upon an article having square corners, in which case the single contact 50 is located directly opposite the shear blades. Where the angles B and C are not equal but B+C=180 the same modification can be used, the contact 50 being adjusted along its supporting bar to a position in advance of or beyond the line of out according to which corner is advanced through the machine first.

A third modification of the device is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8. The device is the same as that of the form first described with the following exceptions:

A bar 60 having an enclosing cover 61 of insulating material is substituted for the bar 39 of Figs. 1, 2, and 3. A pair of contact supporting collars 62 and 63 are mounted on the insulated bar 60 and may be adjusted thereon and clamped thereto. Each collar is supplied with a spring contact, numbered 64 and 65, to which are connected the wires 41 and 46 previously described, these wires having been removed from their previously described connections, the arrangement being such that when both contacts 64 and 65 are grounded on plate 29, a current will flow from the source of power through wire 41 contact 64, plate 29, contact 65, wire 40, and solenoid 28,

thereby energizing the solenoid to hold rod 22 in I current will be interrupted and spring 24 will raise rod 22 to its uppermost position.

This modified form of the device is limited in its use to the trimming of articles the sum of whose leading corner angle 5 and trailing corner angle G is less than The operation of the device is as follows: Referring to Figs. 6 and 8, an article '70 is shown in the position of cutting at its trailing corner in full lines and in the position or" cutting at its leading corner by dot and dash lines. Before the article enters the machine both contacts 64 and 65 are grounded on the plate 29 and the solenoid 28 is holding the rod 22 in its lowermost position. As the article '10 reaches the dot and dash line position, its leading margin lifts contact 65 from bar 29, causing a break in the circuit and actuating the shear blade at the leading corner. On continued travel contact 64 is also lifted, but as the circuit already broken, nothing happens. When the contact 65 drops over the trailing margin and contacts with plate 29, contact 64 is still on the article and the circut is not completed, so no cut occurs. As contact 54 drops on the tra ling margin, the circuit is completed and the shear operates at the trailing corner. Although article '70 is shown as having equal angles F and G, other articles having unequal angles may be trimmed provided the sum of the angles is less than 188, even though one of the angles be greater than 98.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for trimming a binding at the leading and trailing corners of an article having non-supplemental corner angles as the article is progressively advanced with the binding, said apparatus comprising a shear blade over which the binding travels, a second shear blade normally held out of contact with the first named blade and above the advancing binding, means for actuating the second shear blade to cause it to sever the binding, and means laterally spaced from the path of the binding and cooperating with the margins of the article at a distance from the binding to control the actuating means.

2. Apparatus for trimming a binding at the leading and trailing corners, of an article having non-supplemental corner angles as the article is progressively advanced with the binding, said apparatus comprising a cutting device in the path of the binding, means for actuating the cutting device to sever the binding, and means laterally spaced from the path of the binding and cooperating with the margins of the article at a di tance from the binding to control the actuating means.

3. Apparatus for trimming a binding at the leading and trailing corners of an article having non-supplemental corner angles as the article is progressively advanced with the binding, said apparatus comprising a cutting device in the path of the binding, means for actuating the cutting device to sever the binding, and ieeler means laterally spaced from the path of the binding and in the path of the article for controlling said actuating means.

4:. Apparatus for trimming a binding at the leading and trailing corners of an article having non-supplemental corner angles as the article is progressively advanced with the binding, said apparatus comprising a cutting device in the path of the binding, electro-magnetic means for operating the cutting device, and a switch located electrically in the circuit of the electro-magnetic device and laterally spaced from the path of the binding and in the path of the article and actuated by contact with the article for controlling the cutting device.

5. Apparatus for trimming a binding at the leading and trailing corners of an article having non-suppl mental corner angles as the article is progressively advanced with the binding, said apparatus comprising a cutting device in the path of the binding, electro-magnetic means for operating the cutting device, a metal plate over which the article passes, and a spring contact laterally spaced from the path of the binding and bearing on said plate and separable therefrom by passage of the article, said contact being adapted to control the circuit of said electro-magnetic means.

6. Apparatus for trimming a binding at the corner of an article as the article is progressively advanced with the binding, said apparatus comprising a shear blade located in the path of the binding, mechanism for operating the same, and contact means located in the path of the article whereby en agement of the article with the contact means actuates the shear and departure of the article therefrom again operates the shear.

'7. Apparatus for trimming a binding at the corner of an article as the article is progressively advanced with the binding, said apparatus comprising a shear blade located in the path of the binding, mechanism for operating the same, including a reciprocating rod actuated by electromagnetic means, yielding means for holding said rod whereby the shear blade is actuated at each movement, and contact means located in the path of the article and electrically in the circuit of the electro-magnetic means wh reby entrance of the article into the contact means actuates the shear and departure of the article therefrom again operates the shear.

8. Apparatus for trimming a binding at the corners of an article having non-supplemental corner angles as the article is progressively advanced with the binding, said apparatus comprising a shearing device, means for causing the shearing device to cut the binding adjacent a leading corner of the article, means for causing the shearing device to cut the binding adjacent a trailing corner of the article, and electrical means located in the path of the article and laterally spaced from the path of the binding for contacting with edges of the article remote from the binding and thereby controlling both movements of the shearing device.

9. Apparatus for trimming a binding at the leading and trailing edges of an article as the article is progressively advanced with the binding, said apparatus comprising a shear located in the path of the binding, power operated means for driving said shear through the binding, and detector means located in the path of the article for contrcling said power means, said detector means comprising a pair of electrical contact members normally contacting with a conductive plate over which the article passes and adapted to be separated therefrom by the article, one of said contacts controlling cutting of the binding at the leading corner of the article and the other controlling cutting at the trailing corner.

10. A binding-severing device adapted to be used with apparatus for feeding and applying a binding to an article as the article is progressively advanced, said device comprising a shear located in the path of the binding and adapted to snip the same, an electrical circuit, an electro-magnetic device in said circuit adapted to cause one snip of the shear when the circuit is completed and a successive snip when the circuit is broken, and means located electrically in said circuit and physically in the path of the article to break the circuit when the article enters thereunder and to complete the circuit when the article leaves.

11. A binding severing device adapted to be used with apparatus for feeding and applying a binding to an article as the article is progressively advanced, said device comprising a shear located in the path of the binding and adapted to snip the same, an electrical circuit, an electro-magnetic device in said circuit adapted to cause one snip of the shear when the circuit is completed and a successive snip when the circuit is broken, and a pair of article actuated switches located respectively in parallel branches of said circuit and in succession in the path of the article for making and breaking the circuit upon approach and departure of the article.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 including means for individually adjusting said switches along the path of article travel.

13. A binding severing device adapted to be used with apparatus for feeding and applying a binding to an article as the article is progressively advanced, said device comprising a shear located in the path of the binding and adapted to snip the same, an electrical circuit, an electromagnetic device in said circuit adapted to cause one snip of the shear when the circuit is completed and a successive snip when the circuit is broken, and a pair of article actuated switches located in series in said circuit and in succession in the path of the article for making and breaking the circuit upon approach and departure of the article.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 including means for individually securing said switches in difierent positions of adjustment along the path of article travel.

15. A binding severing device adapted to be used with apparatus for feeding and applying a binding to an article as the article is progressively advanced, said device comprising a shear located in the path of the binding and adapted to snip the same, a two-way-acting toggle for actuating said shear to snip the binding, and means located in the path of the article and affected by presence or absence of the article for con trolling said toggle in its movements.

16. A binding severing device adapted to be used with apparatus for feeding and applying a binding to an article as the article is progressively advanced, said device comprising a shear located in the path of the binding and adapted to snip the same, a two-way-acting toggle for actuating said shear by movement in either direction, and means located in the path of the article and affected by the presence or absence of the article for controlling movement of said toggle in each direction.

HERBERT L. DAVIS. 

